insubordinate

American  

[in-suh-bawr-dn-it] / ˌɪn səˈbɔr dn ɪt /

adjective

1. not submitting to authority; disobedient.

   an insubordinate soldier.

   Synonyms:

   insolent, defiant, refractory

2. not lower.

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noun

1. a person who is insubordinate.

insubordinate British  

/ ˌɪnsəˈbɔːdɪnɪt /

adjective

1. not submissive to authority; disobedient or rebellious

2. not in a subordinate position or rank

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noun

1. an insubordinate person

Other Word Forms

• insubordinately adverb
• insubordination noun

Etymology

Origin of insubordinate

First recorded in 1840–50; in- ³ + subordinate

Example Sentences

And do it in a way that makes it sound as if he’s reckless and insubordinate and doesn’t care about the law?

From Slate • Jan. 3, 2026

Roosevelt served for a year as an occasionally insubordinate assistant secretary of the Navy, then resigned at the start of the Spanish-American War to co-found the First U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

An unhappy employee is more likely to engage in contrarian or insubordinate behavior and will generally create a nuisance.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 28, 2025

Because of the SSA’s stultifying culture, Dudek said, he leaned into his insubordinate streak.

From Salon • Sep. 9, 2025

“Who said that?” said the lieutenant, his eyes darting around the crammed room to see who had dared to be so insubordinate.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge